Amnesty International Calls on Global Community to Condemn Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Iran
Amnesty International released a statement calling on the global community to publicly condemn the worsening human rights situation in Iran during the “Universal Periodic Review” scheduled to be held at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva.
Amnesty International called on countries participating in the “Universal Periodic Review” session, which is set to take place on Friday, November 8, to review Iran’s human rights record through the UN “Human Rights Council” in Geneva, to condemn widespread human rights violations in Iran and present solutions to Iranian authorities and officials to address them.
Philip Luther, Director of Research for the Middle East and North Africa section of Amnesty International, stated: “The horrifying list of human rights violations in Iran, from the alarming number of executions to relentless torture and persecution of human rights defenders, widespread discrimination against women and minorities, and the continuation of crimes against humanity, indicates a severe deterioration in the human rights situation in this country’s record.”
According to him, this session is a crucial opportunity for the global community to firmly tell Iranian authorities and officials that “their horrifying disregard for human rights will not be tolerated.”
Based on this report, Amnesty International concluded that the Iranian government has “failed in all respects” regarding human rights.
According to Philip Luther, Iranian officials, instead of fulfilling their promises to strengthen cooperation with civil society and human rights organizations, “have further weakened human rights and intensified suppression of dissidents.”
According to the organization’s report, Iran’s human rights record was last reviewed in 2014, and Iranian authorities have significantly increased repression since that time. More than 2,500 people have been executed under laws in effect in Iran, of whom at least 19 were under 18 years old at the time of the offense, and their execution constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.
Amnesty International has called on Iranian authorities and officials to remove restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to peaceful assembly, end discrimination against women and minorities, immediately suspend death sentences, and put an end to torture and other ill-treatment, unfair trials, and ongoing crimes against humanity.
This human rights organization has repeatedly called on people and human rights activists around the world this year to respond to blatant human rights violations in Iran, including unfair trials, executions, execution of juvenile offenders, arbitrary detentions, lengthy prison sentences for human rights defenders, journalists, opponents of mandatory hijab, religious and ethnic minorities.
Source: Voice of America
